Paris: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an alliance of some 120-odd nations here on Monday to harness solar energy better and asked the rich nations to shoulder their responsibilities in protecting the environment, with funding and transfer of clean technology to poor and emerging economies without further delay.

He also said India would cut carbon emission levels substantially by 2030 by expanding renewable energy.

At another event on innovation also attended by President Hollande, US President Barack Obama and Bill Gates, among others, Modi said it was imperative to make renewable energy much cheaper and more reliable, and the conventional sources cleaner, while developing newer sources that are green.

The prime minister, who landed here on Sunday, also held bilateral talks with Presidents Hollande and Obama, as also Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, besides an unexpected brief meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Among his other engagements, the prime minister opened the India pavilion at the convention to showcase the country's commitment towards renewable energy and climate change while also seeking to demonstrate that the world also needs to look beyond to focus on climate justice.

He also launched at the India Pavilion a coffee table book, entitled 'Parampara', with Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal.

By 2030, we will reduce emissions by 35 percent of 2005 levels, and 40 percent of our installed capacity from non-fossil fuels," he said.